How does Obadiah's obedience connect with other biblical examples of protecting God's servants? Obadiah’s Quiet Courage “for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets, hidden them by fifties in two caves, and had provided them with food and water.” (1 Kings 18:4) Other Servants Who Shielded God’s People • Shiphrah and Puah (Exodus 1:15-21) — midwives who refused Pharaoh’s command to kill Hebrew infants, “the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had told them.” • Jochebed (Exodus 2:1-3) — Moses’ mother hid her son for three months, entrusting him to God’s care in the Nile. • Rahab (Joshua 2:1-14) — sheltered the Israelite spies; “Your servant has shown you kindness” (v. 12). • Jonathan (1 Samuel 19:1-6) — warned David of Saul’s plot, speaking up at risk to himself. • Abigail (1 Samuel 25:18-35) — intervened to protect her household and David from sin. • Jehosheba (2 Kings 11:2-3) — hid the infant Joash from Athaliah’s massacre for six years. • Ebed-Melech (Jeremiah 38:7-13) — pulled Jeremiah from the cistern, “You have put trust in Me, declares the LORD, and I will deliver you” (39:18). • Paul’s nephew and the Roman commander (Acts 23:16-24) — exposed the plot to kill Paul; the centurion Julius later saved Paul from execution (Acts 27:42-43). Common Threads in These Accounts • Reverence for God over fear of rulers. • Risking personal safety, position, or possessions. • Acting decisively and often quietly behind the scenes. • Providing tangible help—food, shelter, escape routes. • Becoming instruments through whom God preserves His redemptive line and message. How Obadiah Fits the Pattern • Like Shiphrah and Puah, he served within a hostile regime yet obeyed God first. • Like Rahab, he used available resources (caves, provisions) to hide God’s servants. • Like Jonathan, he balanced loyalty to authority (King Ahab) with higher loyalty to the LORD. • Like Jehosheba, he recognized future impact: preserving prophetic voices that would call Israel back to covenant faithfulness. The Larger Biblical Theme Scripture repeatedly shows God raising individuals to protect His messengers so that His Word cannot be silenced. Each act—Obadiah’s included—points to God’s sovereign preservation ultimately fulfilled in Christ, whom Herod could not destroy (Matthew 2:13-15). God’s plans stand, and He invites ordinary believers to participate through courageous, protective obedience. |
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